Oops

Looks like this morning, when I posted Eric Collins’ blog about yesterday’s Dodgers Dream Foundation golf tourney, I accidentally posted it to Inside the Dodgers. My bad. It’s been re-posted over at Psychollingy.

In the meantime, here’s tonight’s lineup:

Pierre, LF

Furcal, SS

Hudson, 2B

Ethier, RF

Martin, C

Loney, 1B

Kemp, CF

Blake, 3B

Kershaw, P

And in case you haven’t heard, X Paul is headed to the DL with a skin infection to his left leg, so Jamie Hoffmann is headed to the big leagues. Great story…a non-drafted free agent makes it all the way to the Majors. Great guy, too, so we’re very happy for him.

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Congrats Emma!!! WOOHOO!!! You didn’t even need PED’s to be featured like I did (since they used my Manny pic, heheh) Congrats on your CLEAN victory :) !!!!!

Thanks for the vote of confidence D-Co, Nelly, D4L and Emma. As per D-Co’s request (which would’ve been new threaded again if I had posted it earlier anyway), I’ll make that the next post.

Anticipating the game tonight, but gotta work, then go to my gf’s brother’s graduation, then tomorrow I go through commencement, and I”m definitely doing something Dodger related on my mortarboard. More news on that later.

I loved Manny to death before he came to LA. Even though I hated the BoSox, there was something infectious about Manny, and the whole Manny-being-Manny mystique.

Maybe it had to do with the fact I’m hispanic, or the fact I tend to be a laid-back guy who takes things a day at a time, but I was very intrigued by the way he acted on the field. This guy took breaks in the Green Monster, ran out on the field with MP3 sunglasses, kept most of his checks stuffed in his locker, where it probably rained checks at any given moment.

And the guy could rake! Bill Simmons of ESPN wrote after the trade “I got a message from one of my Yankee fan friends. He wrote ‘Thanks for breaking up Ruth and Gehrig'”.

As the World Turned every offseason in Boston, with the Manny-Boston marraige ready to break up at any time with a new trade demand, I dreamed. And after every kiss-and-make-up session, I felt disappointed. I felt that if this guy came to LA, with his laid back attitude, killer work ethic, natural hitting talent and staggering power numbers, LA would love him.

I had no idea how the mania would take over once he did make it to LA. And what a likeable guy! Saying all the right things, making everyone laugh he came in contact with, from news reporters to fans. And once that loooooooooooooooooong offseason happened, I was sweating every day knowing that nothing was certain for this year, thinking it would’ve been so much easier if we had won the Series last year, because a fling would’ve made sense for everyone involved, no risk, all reward.

Well, so much for all that. I have never been so let down in my life by an athlete I’ve rooted for. It was easy to deal with Milton Bradley’s blow-ups, he was a jerk, and I didn’t like him. It was easy to deal with Sheffield’s prima-donna BS, he was a jerk, and I didn’t like him. Hell, it was easier for me to deal with Piazza being traded at the time, because although I respected what he did for the team, I never really liked him much either, always thinking his pompous attitude was awfully high-horsed for someone who was drafted in the 200’s, and got on the team thanks to Uncle Tommy, luckily for us in the 90’s. When he signed with the Mets after his week-long Florida (Marlins) vacation, and said he’d go into Cooperstown with a Mets hat (after growing up in PA, that’s a hell of a statement in and of itself), I felt a little vindicated in my disillusion with him. The events of July 31st, 2004 were tough to deal with that day, but at least later on solace came with knowing it was a Roids dump situation.

Now, I feel really conflicted. In the human scope, I feel people deserve second chances, and I’m pained that Manny felt he had to make such a desicion when he has so much natural talent (The latter statement being the same way I feel about Bonds, by the way, but he’s a jerk and I don’t like him, heheheh. But no second chances for those who never admit their mistakes). In that scope, I’d really like to see him come back and succeed, maybe not at Mannywood levels, but as we are showing that we don’t need PED’s to be on the top of our game (I hope), perhaps Manny can come back and show the same.

After all, this organization has the inspirational stories of Don Newcombe and Sweet Lou Johnson to look at. Although PED’s are a bit different of a monster than the demons those two dealt with, I feel that with the right motivation and if all goes well, Manny’s story of how he comes out of this could be inspirational as well to a culture that is dealing with the hangover of the mantra “Greed is Good”, where coffee is for closers, and you have to be the best at all times, even when you’re not, even when there’s no chance in hell, because despite all the 9th place ribbons handed out these days, there’s only one brass ring, and if you don’t hold on tight enough, you’ll take your chances with everyone else who doesn’t measure up, hoping something will break the fall.

BUT………

As a Dodgers fan, I don’t know how to take the fact that he’s not working out with the team. And at a time when his accusal came from regimens suggested away from the team, I do know that I feel funny. I know as a human being, my first response to situations such as this is to curl up inside my mental shell, and not let anyone in until I’ve got things sorted out (not the best strategy, I know). BUT…. I don’t get paid multi millions to represent the LA Dodgers on the field. He needs to get back with the organization, even if it’s Glendale. Saddle up at the ranch. Whatever. Just get back to that commitment you made.

Either way, the team might not “need” him, but they can use his baseball insights. Hell, I know it’d put Dre at ease a bit.

And if anyone wants to toss tomatoes due to my teen-angst feelings of Piazza, please feel free. Throw cilantro too, as I was planning on making salsa soon anyway.
By northstateblues on May 22, 2009 10:06 AM

Sorry, but neither Andre nor Kemp would be on my give-up list for Peavey, and I’m one who wouldn’t mind seeing Peavey on our team. I don’t think that his being a Dodger is likely, because we’re in the mode of shying away from big and long contracts for pitchers since the Schmidt tranasaction. I think that his kind of contract carries a big risk for fear of facing another disability. Another thought would be to acquire Garland, since AZ is reported to be making him available.

Apparently, Xavier Paul is in the hospital. Larry Bowa is on KCAL right now talking about it. He got a burn sliding on the turf during the road trip and it became infected and he had to be rushed to the hospital. They are keeping a close eye on him because staff infections can be potentially serious. They say it’s under control now. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

Hiya Guys & Dolls of ITD
WOW a 9 game lead, that enough to lower the blood pressure.
I know you LosAngelinos have your rivals out on the field there, tonight.
The Gnats are mine, cuz I go back a long way, like a few others of you.
Once we were 13 1/2 games ahead in August and Gnats wouldn’t let us breathe.
That 1951 year made me the way I am.

Good evening, one and all. I’d be real surprised if the Friars traded Peavy to anybody in the division let alone us. That said, too much cost in players and dollars. We can improve our pitching for much less. GO DODGERS!!!! BEAT THE O.C!!!!!

Patcience Dodger Faithful!! These guys are still battling. I don’t think that they have “quit” in there vocabulary right now. I am not a Phew fan, but I think he is providing some veteran leadership right now. Good timing perhaps, but, you know, that is why many players that are considered great/good got that way. We’ve got a long way to go and I like the way this team is responding to the adversity. Pierre is actually contributing more than most to our success. I am happy for him and I certainly hope it continues.

OBF — That is funny! Way to stick with it!
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Bob — Cheer up we are in the top in pitching & hitting categories. They just didn’t score there and the game is still tied.
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I guess Torre made a good move with the pitching changes, huh. Remember to give him credit when he deserves it!

Martin struck out twice with a runner on 1st and 3rd and bases loaded with 1 out after getting a hit to tied the game but does he get the blame to? How about Kershaw throwing 30+ pitches in the 1st innings?

RISP is, definitely, the story of this game. But tomorrow is another day. I’m just concerned about the amount of innings our bullpen is logging. If we don’t start getting more than 5 innings a night from our starters, it’s going to take its toll down the road.

..but until the 8th inning, the Angels were having the same issue……….couldn’t score with RISP so their pitchers were stuggling too by allowing men to get on base. Both SP pitched 5 innings and both had pitched over 100 pitches so Weaver was no better than Kershaw. So, it was up to the bullpens to carry the game and our bullpen gave it up. That’s how I see it IMO.

We can blame Wade for this lost but when you leave chances like that with risp with 2 outs you have to take advantage and we are know we didn’t. I’ll take that you blame Wade for give up the single to Sheffield when Hudson was shift to 2nd bases? Wade was totally squeeze on some of those pitcher the ump didn’t give him and to be honest I think he did good in the last 5 games that he pitch even thought he has 2 BS in those 5 games. Sorry I really hate blame the pitcher for or lack of hitting with risp.

What a forgettable game. Dodgers don’t seem to like days off. Ned is still going have to find a reliable 8th-inning guy. Wade isn’t ready quite yet…neither is Belisario, nor Troncoso. But who on this team (discounting injury) has regressed more in one year than Russell Martin? This guy is a shadow of the player the Dodgers had hoped to see. Rating players on five tools, let’s have a look:
Hitting: a very “soft” .263..tonight was abysmal, unable to even make contact in two key ABs.
Hitting for Power: Duh
Running: Still decent speed for a catcher (more SBs than Furcal)
Glove: Did you see him block the plate on Ethier’s throw to the plate in the 8th inning? Me neither. That manager in the other dugout, what’s-his-name?–must have winced.
Arm: Does he throw out runners anymore?
OK, so Martin didn’t lose the game and the Dodgers are still way out front. But messagebear is on to something when he questions Martin’s potential non-future with this club and enchanted is on to something when he slams Uncle Joe for his insistence on keeping Martin in the five-hole.
On a positive note, I had pizza for dinner……….

…you lose as a team. And for the most part this team has certainly been playing like one. I was never expecting to win all the games. Like Charlie just said, it was just a night of missed opportunities on both ends………..offense and defense.

Kahli – They mentioned on radio that the throw from Ethier Martin had dropped the ball. I was just listening and didn’t see the play but do you think it was a possible out if Martin would have blocked the plate like he should have?

In terms of overall ability, this is one of the least talented Dodger staffs in years. We’ve got guys with so-so track records and some guys with no track records at all. How they perform is going to be crucial in how this season plays out.

I’m sorry dodge I don’t mean to argue but I still think it silly. I really think he was trying but it seem he was getting squeeze in that inning a little and I watch that game on Kcal. Ok time to root against the Padres now since they passed the Giants up.

dude spit its not arguing its talking about the game and giving our opinions its fun… and I would love to see another ace… there was a rumor floating around about a trade of pierre for bullpen help on a blog but when I went back to read it again it had been pulled… I dont think it was accurate… it had pierre going to the nats for bullpen help… the nats cannot help us there

The only way Martin becomes marketable in a trade for a #1 starter is if he plays well. If he rebounds, I’d just as soon keep him. Maybe his conditioning is the problem. Didn’t he deemphasize strength training during the offseason? Whatever the reason, Martin has, definitely, taken a step or two backwards so far this year.

2008 and on
Cordero missed most of the 2008 season after undergoing surgery to repair a labrum tear. His expected recovery time is 12–18 months, meaning he may miss the majority – if not all – of the 2009 season. On October 30, 2008 the Nationals sent him outright to AAA Syracuse, and he rejected the assignment, becoming a free agent. On March 12, 2009, he signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners with an invitation to spring training. He will compete for the closer role once he has fully recovered from surgery.[3]

if this trade does happen alot of questions come to mind… why willie harris? is hudson hurt more than the dodgers are letting on. and I know julian tavarez and Manny are good freinds is this a thing to help him when he gets back? and why is ramon troncoso in the trade? we need bullpen help and he has been a consistant… but I love mota gone. last one is why trade pierre now? manny is still over 35 games from coming back and with paul on the dl this leaves us very thin in the outfield…

The only guy I’d even consider trading Martin for (and I would never trade Martin at this stage of his career) is Roy Halladay. OK, Pujols, too. If the Dodgers are to take this great start and run with it, Ned needs to get a front-line starter and a set-up man to entertain any hopes of a World Championship. Now just how he pulls that off is the trick. In his walk year, Ned sits at the precipice–a chance to win it all…………..and cement his future.

IMO it’s a team sport as Sky (& I also think Nelly) had put it. Win as a team & loose as a team. I’ve always believed that. In this instance it wasn’t just Wade that cost the game.
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Martin had a tough game as well with his failure to produce in a couple of big spots.
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I don’t like to blame one player or another. I usually try to stay away from that.
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I do feel that something is up with Martin. I wouldn’t give up on him though. But he needs to relax a little. He’s been pressing since last September.
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I think it’s mental with him trying to do way too much. He over swings and tries to hit everything out. He’s a sucker to the high inside pitch the same way Andruw had trouble last year with the slider away.

It took me awhile to get that posted. Now it’s letting me in — I hope.
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I don’t like that trade at all. Even before Pierre was tearing it up. I think we should be able to get more for him without giving up Troncoso. I think he has been good and will continue to improve.
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Now if Toronto wants Pierre & Mota for Halliday I’d be all over that!
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In my dreams!!!!!

Hello there Nelly. Yes I did. It was great! Thanks for asking. Wifey & I went to Sactown for the night. Saw the game that night and went shopping a little the next day before heading home. We had a blast but need to have more time off together. I came back to work after having 2 days off in a row and people were asking how my vacation was. Usually that is called a weekend!!!
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I need a new job! But now isn’t the time to be jumping ship.
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They lost the game but we enjoyed the game, weather, and each other. We had seats in the 2nd row and got some autographs which is always fun.
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When do you head to Fresno? Tomorrow???

It sounds like you had a great time Collie. I really do like going to that ballpark and Sacramento in general. Our school did a reading contest and gets to go to a Grizzlies game next Sunday. Every student got two free tickets for reading 10 books,and the teachers got tickets as well for filling out surveys. So, as long as Mariya doesn’t have volleyball next Sunday, I am there eventhough it’s watching the gnat AAA team play. Many of my students are going and since I did soooo much baseball in the classroom, it will be a fun end to the school year.

Good for them. I hope they have fun. I saw the pictures & they looked cute.
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We had all the girls coming into work last weekend getting their makeup done for their proms. Then all the limos were rolling to The Cheesecake Factory next door at dinner time.
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Did you get anything good with your shopping trip?
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We got this chicken roaster thing from Williams/Sonoma. It simulates the Beer Can Chicken but it’s mainly for the BBQ. I tried to use it tonight but it’s to big for our BBQ. Oh well… I guess we need to buy a bigger BBQ!!!

It’s okay to watch the Gnats. It’ll be a scouting trip for you!
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That would be fun for you to follow up your year with the kids there. I also saw the pictures of your classroom. It looked great. You really do a great job with your kids and making learning fun is such a key for them. Keep up the great work making a difference in kids lives. That is special.

Thanks – Eric gets all the credit for the picture taking. I told him earlier, but his pictures turned out better than the ones they actually took at the prom itself.

No, I didn’t even end up shopping really. My neighbor teacher called and told me all the ins and outs of who will be in my class next year. This week our school was setting up classes for next year and it’s the job of the outgoing teacher to place students into the next grade. So, we as first grade teachers, placed students in 2nd grade classes. I told her all I want to do is get through the next 9 days of this year – LOL!!!!

9 days seems like a long time now but will be over pretty quickly. Oh I wish I was having a vacation in 9 days… I’m really burned out at work. It’s really a grind right now.
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Oh well…
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How bout them Dodgers!!!

Thanks again – It was a little embarrassing and fun during Open House last Wednesday because I think every parent knew either something about Andre, the Dodgers, baseball in general or Dodgereric just based on the information going home with their child. I have a student in my class who is a “Make a Wish” child. He has a life threatening illness with a very short life expetency. Anyhow, he has gotten so into baseball that he gets up every morning and reads the newspaper to find out the scores of the games from the previous night. It is too funny. Not only that his entire bedroom has been transformed into an mlb themed room. He started out the year not being a great reader, and I told his parents, half the battle is getting them to like reading and if he is getting up in the mornings to read the newspaper, he will be reading books about baseball in no time.

It sounds like you are putting in some pretty good hours. Since my hubby has started this baseball academy our hours are exact opposite. I work the standard 8-5 and he works from 3-9. However, during the summer months, it becomes make up time. More lunch dates and noon movie dates, etc. So, this summer should be fun.

I like the Make A Wish Foundation. They do some good things. I wish I was a player just so I could impact someone in that way. There are many great things in the community that some of our players do that is covered locally but not nationally.
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It’s cool you’ve given him your love of baseball. That is one thing to me that baseball is all about. I’m a romantic when it comes to baseball.
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And getting him to want to read on his own is just awesome. That must really be rewarding for you!

I figure the kids that already come in reading, I am just a facilitator in getting them from one level to another, but that’s what our education system wants to see. The student already reading excelling, but the joy in teaching is watching the struggling reader finally see the light bulbs go on as to how all this reading really works. Those are the students we really never get credit for. They will always be the “basic” student since the C student really isn’t recognized anymore. You have to be at 80% or above to be counted in our current system. However, the basic (or C) student is the most rewarding to teach at this level because they have to work so hard at it and to finally see their hard work pay off is what it’s all about IMO.

That is tough. We are in the same boat. I’m up @ 7:00 and at work by 8:30 to 6:30 or so. She goes in at different times but usually 10:00 – 7:00. So she is up at 8:00 just after I leave and get’s home at around 8:00. Then we have dinner and it’s 9:00 and almost time for bed. We have usually 1 day off a week together because our jobs are open on Saturday & Sunday as well.
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This Sunday we are both off & I don’t have softball so we are doing Church, gym, early movie & dinner out night. It should be fun. Each day we have off together we joke that we need to enjoy it as it’s our last day of “vacation”. LOL!
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Nice chatting with you as myself! Time for me to hit it as morning will be here, well, … now!
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Take care…

I have a story for you on another night about seeing that light myself. It isn’t on the same level of importance that you teach but I know what you mean on a smaller scale. It just must be really cool to teach someone that doesn’t get it & then after your & their work they learn & get it.
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I’m starting to sound like Joe last September! LOL!!

I thought you were going to bed? …and, Yes, you do sound like Joe :) I had one girl this year who came into first grade not even knowing the letters in her name and is now reading and writing simple sentences. That to me a huge success story, but it’s those efforts that will never be recognized in a second grade classroom. I will be looked at as not doing my job well enough. It’s about what students can do now…………….not where they came from to get to where they are now. Okay – go to bed :)

Good morning Dodger Faithful, We had plenty of scoring opportunitie’s last night. Not enough of them across the plate. Todays another day…..GO GET EM TONIGHT BOY’S!!!!
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Have a great day today everyone :-)
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GO DODGERS!!!!!!!

Good morning IDT faithful. Did a little checking and came up with the following.
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Since Manny has been gone we’ve played 14 games. We’ve hit a total of 8 home runs with 4 coming from Blake 1 from Kemp, 2 from Loney and 1 from Castro.
Ethier, Hudson, Martin, Pierre, Furcal have hit none. What’s happened to our power? What are the young studs doing? We need a new batting coach. Mattingly is not helping.

Boblee good morning to you and everyone out there. Get rid of Donnie Baseball, I think not….Put a ring on his finger…I think so…I can sympythise with the lack of power although we only needed a single, at the right time to score a few runs last night. Tonight we shall Get ~ Er ~ Done…The scoring part. The coaching staff has done a fabulous job so far in my opinion, the kids have as well. Keep on keepin on…Time to get this thing back on track.
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GO DODGERS!!!!!!
BRING THE RING TO L.A. in 2009!!!!

Tough loss last night, and I’m not really ready to criticize anybody for it. We’ve been playing great overall as a team, and let’s hope that we can still salvage two from our cross-LA area rivals.

I’d also like to shed a bit of a misconception about my expressed disappointment with Martin. It’s not like I’m suggesting that we DFA him or trade him unless or until we have a better catcher in place. I think I’m just stating that in my opinion Russ has been regressing now for about two years – average, power, ability to throw out runners. In fact, I believe that his best work was shown in the first half of the season when he came to the majors and was still fighting to extablish his job. Maybe he’s gotten to be too comfortable is all I’m saying. It’s not exactly like Loney and Kemp are meeting all the goals that we would set for them this year, but Martin has shown a persistent pattern of regression rather than progression. I hope that he can come around, but, if he doesn’t, he won’t be the first young player who underachieves once he’s in the majors for a couple of years. So, please take anything that I say in that perspective and not as if I’ve decided to pick on him in particular. But with his record so far, he’s not the first of our young guys that deserves being signed up with the Dodgers for a longer term. I’d do that with Billz, Brox and Andre first.

Along with pitching, I’m always concerned about lack of power on our team. I do daily follow a few of our guys in the minors, like Lambo (not really showing that well so far), Ellis (good), Russell, and Van Slyke (both still at too low a level) to see where some power could be arriving in a couple of years or so. I think that we may need to alter our drafting approach to some extent and go for some power hitters from the high school ranks to fill in our minor league rosters. I’m not sure that concentrating especially on high school pitchers has been that productive for us, what with the arm injuries, etc. When it comes to pitching, I think our drafts need to look more at the college level for people who’ve got more experience at a higher level.

Now that our winning streak has been broken, I’d also like to see Torre switch Loney with Andre in the cleanup slot of our order – just to see how that works for both guys. It seems to me like Loney has been more clutch of late when it comes to driving in runs, and he has batted cleanup before.

boblee – I am not sure what happened to some of our power either, but we are 8 1/2 games out in front without it, and hopefully it will come around when we need it most.

messagebear – I think the reason people refer to the things you say because people value your perspective so much. I have always felt Russell’s name was one of those names that was untouchable when it came to negative comments in terms of his overall performance. Most others have had their fair share of doubt about their performance, some more than others obviously, but maybe you have a point about the comfortableness of his position. Loney has a similar issue in that he hasn’t really had to worry about his position too much either, meaning he has never really had to compete to keep his job, as compared to the outfield especially and some others on the infield prior to O-Dog and Blake.

The intensity level that this team has been playing at so far this season has been outstanding. There have been some moments, along the way. The passed ball on an IBB, the steal home, The throw to home instead of getting the out at first. Pierre getting picked off at 2nd, not as sharp as the ability to produce runs in the 1st inning, keep the ball in the park by the pitching staff, attack the opposing bullpen in late innings, the near no no, the cycle by Hudson, the flat out brilliance from Brox, Andre’s 2 home run day, Kemp’s outstanding defense, and terrific start, the bull pens ability to stay focused and let the offense produce some runs.
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I am looking forward to seeing Manny, back with the Boy’s, and moving pass the inevitable questions that will be asked. Putting Manny back with the team, shagging balls, taking batting practice, bringing the mindset that he brings to the club is not just needed but long awaited. This is a club that has exemplified the word team, throughout.
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We need closure and we need to move foward with the lack of having the team entire team together all giving the upmost support to one another. We can get it done while Manny is off the playing field, however I believe it is time, for everyone to show their support up close and personal.
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No worries here though just my thoughts and feelings.
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GO DODGERS!!!!!!

Boblee, I completely agree, they don’t look like they have a plan at the plate like they did before. I think a lot of them are pressing and though Mattingly was a great hitter, it really doesn’t seem like he is doing a lot. Maybe he is and we just don’t know about it, but he should be working extra with everyone that is struggling, especially Andre since I think he’s the hardest on himself mentally. I don’t think being moved to the 6th spot would hurt him to take some pressure off for a bit. All of them were solid players with solid numbers before Manny came, but they seem not to be trusting in that. I think that is an area that Manny really helped more than the coaches, he made them have confidence and relax and taught them to go to the plate with a game plan.

BCG ~ You are right on……I know Juan is playing better than we expected but, he is not Manny. Manny brings more to the team chemistry than a bit bat. He does keep them focused and loose.
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I know Russell is a little off right now but, he is still valuable to the team. The pitchers trust him to have a good game plan. Ausmus has helped Russ in that area and should be commended for what he has added to this team.

Mattingly there is so much he can do I missed small boy but seriously you can’t blame Mattingly for this problem. When we didn’t have him it was another hitting coach. This tell you that we really need Manny back.

Hey bluecrewgirl!!! Is it possible that Manny’s game plan has been a little bit tainted in the eyes of the young guns though? I am still not really sure how I am going to react when Manny returns. I think alot will depend on what happens to our other outfielders once he does return. Anyhow, just thinking Andre for a moment. Andre seems to have benefited most from having Manny around, not because of where he batted, but what he learned from Manny about being relaxed, approach to the plate and just plain watching the game. Andre may never say it, but don’t you think just maybe he thinks that everything Manny said or did is not what it seems anymore. Andre admitted himself that he never even attempts to take anything for fear it could be a banned substance. That being said, I know Andre is going to swing his way out of whatever it up with him, and eventhough Andre went 0-2, all four at-bats last night were much better, and I am thinking he is trying to find within himself maybe he is the only one he can trust when it comes to baseball. Also, I don’t ever think Andre is ever going to feel comfortable in his position on the team. That in itself is going to cause him to press too much, as opposed to perhaps James and Russell who don’t seem to have to fight for their positions as much maybe suffering from being too comfortable.

Uncle Phil is proud to announce that Kalia Gurnee graduated last Sunday from Willamette University. Her parents did a great job in raising her, not only gracing her with brains and beauty but making sure she grew up a Dodger fan even though she was raised in northen northern California surrounded by Giant fans.

Last spring she studied in Mexico where it so happened one of her fellow students had been a teammate of Clayton Kershaw’s in high school. When she asked me if I knew anything about him I was proudly able to send her the Minotaur is Unleashed link. On her way back from Mexico she came by to visit and I think we watched his first ever start but I could be mixing that up, so don’t hold me to it.

Either way, my wife and I are very proud of her, and her parents. She was born in a birthing bathtub her father made and it must have had some magic in it. She’s smart enough to be anything she wants but she’s chosen to help children who need it most. Some future children are going to be very lucky she chose that path. We feel very lucky she’s our niece.

I am in no way saying we don’t need Manny back. I think he did have a positive affect on the chemistry of the team. I think O-Dog is working to accomplish that while Manny is gone and may just take over that role, which would be great! However, Manny staying away from the clubhouse or not working out with the team is not a good thing, and the longer he stays away, the harder it will be to get that chemistry back IMO, especially the chemistry he had with the young players.

Nelly, I agree that Andre definitely benefited a lot mentally from having Manny around, but I think he’s forgotten what a good player he was before Manny ever arrived. He’s always batted near .300 his entire career. He needs to strip it down and go back to what he’s always done. He really has looked better the last couple of games. I went out last night, so I only saw his first 2 at bats and on the second one, he was robbed of a hit down the right field line and then he had the 2 walks after that, so it definitely is an improvement.

bluecrewgirl – I think Joe thinks that too, or he wouldn’t be keeping him in the lineup where he is. Also, I am keeping track of the other 3/4/5 hitters in the league, and he certainly isn’t the only one going through some major slumping right now. Also, the team is doing very well while he is going through this so this hopefully is relieving some of the pressure as well. However, I wouldn’t mind seeing he and James switching spots, but I am assuming Joe likes how everyone is batting around him. Other than last night, it really hasn’t hurt us, and maybe Joe is just letting him stick it out, and I think enchanted said it best. This will probably be one of the best learning he will do………….learning how to swing himself through a major slump and come out on the other end of it even better than before. Then Andre will be able to call himself a bonifide major leaguer. I am confident that will happen……….I just hope it happens sooner than later :)

messagebear – I was cleaning out a shelf in my classroom and ran across our list we started last summer. The list that had all the current bloggers and where they lived. Looking at this list, many of us are still here……………changed names for some of us, but pretty cool!!!! This was the original list……..

This Ethieraholic will never give up on Andre. He may not be all show and may never be labeled an “All Star”, but he has so much more going for him than this game, and that’s what makes him a fabulous athlete IMO. He strives to do well in all aspects of his life, not just on the ball field, and if children have a need to look up to athletes as their models, then he should definitely be one of them.

Nelly, I commented recently that maybe Joe was showing him “tough love” by keeping him the cleanup spot because he will be a better player when all is said and done and he works his way out of it, so I agree with enchanted, it can turn out to be a very valuable learning experience for him. As a fan of his, it’s hard to watch though, lol. I know you feel the same.

It is very hard to watch bluecrewgirl, and I think the timing makes it that much harder because of all the speculation that it’s because of Manny. However, most of the articles I have read, have not pointed his slump to that factor, and even Joe has been quoted as saying so.

Most of those reporters and fantasy bloggers haven’t really watched him or the Dodgers play enough to make that kind of determination. It annoys me when they talk about him like he was some kind of second rate chump before Manny came to the team instead on the quality player he’s always been.

I know he doesn’t hear it but, it doesn’t help that Vinny, Charlie and Rick keep reminding us of the “horrible” slump Dre experiencing! Like we don’t know it! Like we don’t love him anyway! And, most of all, we know he will pull out of it!

I don’t know but do you really want another 31 years old career minor league up here with a high k’s ratio? Same reason why Tiffee wasn’t really given a chance here last year with Sweeney came off the DL.

Hello everyone, I read some of the posts and really wish I was posting more..As far as the Manny situation, I do not really need an explanation and if he is smart he will not give one. Just say I made a mistake and I want to teach kids not to make the same mistake that he did. Learn from A Rod, Clemens, bonds and make some assinine excuse..It is what it is…

Now with that being said..Andre is suffering without him. He seems to be pressing and I have noticed he trying to pull the ball more than he used to…He seems to be trying to justify his order in the lineup. I would move him to the 3rd spot and put Blake in the 4th spot…

The boys are playing well, last night was a little frustrating. I agree with Messagebears comment about Martin, I love him, but he needs to step up…Defensively, I think he is playing as well as ever, blocking balls in the dirt as good as ever and his throwing has been good this year…I am disappointed in his offensive production…He is taking too big a swing and needs to go back to the short stroke and hit the ball to the right side more…

O dog has been better than I had ever imagined…defensively he has made a BIG difference…the pitchers have to love this guy. He is making plays that Kent could not make when he was 25…Great signing!!!

bluecrewgirl – It is a great place!!! I have spent alot of time on the 15, but it has always been going to Las Vegas or the 10 going to La Quinta, but that area of Temecula/Murrieta is wonderful, and dodgereric will gladly agree with that.

ramslover – It’s good to see you on here. I think Andre thinks he has to be the “guy” now, and he just needs to be Andre. He needs to understand that Andre being Andre is what everybody wants to see. It’s what got him to this point in the first place, not Manny. Like bluecrewgirl said, he was batting just as well before Manny appeared back in August. Andre needs to remember that Andre, and hopefully he (or somebody helps him) finds that Andre soon.

Overall I think that Hudson has been the most valuable player for our team so far. Although I didn’t think so at first, Blake has also turned into an invaluable teammate. DeWitt, although I love him too, was nowhere ready compared to the accomplishments of these two so far. I believe we have Blake for another two years – I think we need to extend Hudson for another two at the earliest opportunity. Kent was always a bit controversial on this forum, but there was no comparison with his play at second base defensively for the years that we had him in the middle of the infield.

did Casey sign for 3 years I was thinking only 2 and he has been better than I thought…I am a big Dewott fan, but Bear you are right he would not have contributed as these to have…I hate to say it but package him and get a Veteran number one pitcher…Dewitt, mcDonald, Elbert, whoever it takes we need a vet leader and proven winner ie Peavy, Oswalt, Halladay(wishful thinking)…Bedard if healthy and he seems to be..

I’d be reluctant to part with DeWitt at this point, unless it was for the quality of talent that you mention, ramslover. Keep in mind that if either Blake or Hudson go down on the DL, DeWitt would still be the best replacement for either position. I don’t think that Loretta or Castro would be as good having to be regular players.

Hi ITD boys & girls
I’ve been catching up today in my reading. Also I dedicated my #46 ranking to “Happy” Hooton and to the Taylor Hooton foundation. I am glad I got that number to read more about this foundation founded my Burt’s cousin Don who lost his son Taylor. If you want to check the foundation is http://www.taylorhooton.com/home

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